Alex Ovechkin scored a stunning go-ahead goal early in the third period and set up another and the Washington Capitals opened their season with a 5-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night. “They make that one-of-a-kind capacity in which they could send the puck…” “In the third, we started moving the puck and we controlled the puck”, (see full recap).
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The Washington Capitals started their season with quick strike goals by Jason Chimera and Brooks Orpik barely two minutes apart mid-way through the first period.
The Devils first goal of this game was scored by center Adam Henrique just 22 seconds after Brooks Orpik had scored the second goal for the Caps in the first period, this habit has always been an ugly one for the Caps in the past.
He also had an assist on Marcus Johansson’s powerplay goal later in the final frame.
Ovechkin scored at 6:33 of the third period to put the Capitals ahead 3-2. “Shot about 100 yesterday and I shoot two, three times a game”. Oshie had the best chance of the stretch when the Devils were caught on a line change, but Kinkaid stretched out his right pad to deny the forward.
Kinkaid, starting in place of Cory Schneider in the second of back-to-back games, made 22 saves.
Injuries were an issue for the Caps coming into this game with Nicklas Backstrom being held out for perhaps the first week as he continues his recuperation from hip surgery, and Orpik playing his first game after sitting out the preseason after wrist surgery.
“He’s just in a groove, stopping everything”, Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said of Smith (see full recap).
Holtby returned the favored with a similar save to thwart Henrique on a breakaway after the power play. “Too many turnovers. It wasn’t a solid game for us”.
NOTES: According to the Capitals, Chimera’s opening goal marked the first time Washington’s first goal of the season came short-handed. New Jersey C Brian O’Neill, 27, made his National Hockey League debut….
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The Washington Capitals won their home opener on Saturday. With Saturday’s scenario, the Devils filled their ealier firstly 12 groups of back-to-back online games.
